WWE diva Rosa Mendes joins ‘Total Divas’ for season three, premiering Sept. 7 on E! | Miami Herald

The third season of “Total Divas” heats up with the addition of hot WWE diva Rosa Mendes.

The Canadian beauty was ecstatic to join the E! reality show chronicling the adventures of some of WWE’s most popular women inside and outside the ring. She knows what the hit series has done for the careers of Summer Rae, Eva Marie, Natalya, Cameron (Ariane), Naomi (Trinity) and Nikki and Brie Bella.

“Being on ‘Total Divas’ is like a huge promotion for a diva,” Mendes said during an interview to promote the season premiere 9 p.m. EST Sunday, Sept. 7 on E!.

“It’s a really big deal. You get more opportunity. You get more matches. So getting the call was really a big surprise. I was literally screaming, crying and jumping for joy, when I was told I would be part of the cast.”

Mendes describes herself as an open book and one who doesn’t hold back.

“I tell it like it is,” she said. “This was perfect for me because I’m not shy about who I am. I’m letting all the skeletons in the closet come out. I’m not hiding anything. I’ve always kind of been like that. I say how I feel. If I don’t like something or somebody, I don’t mind a confrontation.”

She says she brings honesty to the table. The outspoken performer likes to keep it real.

“Sometimes the divas are afraid to say how they feel to one another,” Mendes said. “They’ll smile and shake your hand, then talk behind your back. That’s not me at all. If somebody pisses me off, I’m going to go up to them and tell them that it’s not cool, whether they like it or not. That’s just the way I am. Then we are going to deal with the situation.

“We are going to shake hands and get over it, or we’re not. I, myself, am a free spirit. I do what I want, when I want. Sometimes it catches the other girls off guard. I’m happy with who I am, and I’m not shy about who I am.”

The grappler loves attention. She also isn’t afraid of showing a little skin.

“When I’m in my apartment, I like walking around naked and in my hotel room,” Mendes said. “That was kind of weird having the cameras there. Well, this is how I really am. I think people were caught off guard by the fact that I was naked on TV. That’s just who I am.”

Mendes has been part of the WWE family since 2006, when she entered the Diva Search. Layla, a former Miami Heat dancer, won the competition, but Mendes was still signed to developmental. This makes Mendes among the longest contracted female talents on the roster. She looks to make her current run a successful one.

“I expected the girls to welcome me, as I’d been off for a year-and-a-half dealing with some personal issues,” she said. “I don’t think a lot of the divas thought I was going to come back. They were really surprised that I not only came back, but that I’m part of the cast. The divas’ locker room is very competitive, and we all want the divas’ championship. Not only do I come back, but I come back in the best shape of my life. I come back better and stronger. I think some of the divas were happy for me, I think? Then there were some who were vocal that I was back.”

She sees Natalya as a big sister and support system. The third generation wrestler has also been a mentor to Mendes in the squared circle.

“We are really close,” she said. “I’m happy to have her in the locker room, because I look up to her. She is amazing in the ring. She has been giving me advice and has been there for me. I’m really happy to have her in my life.”

During season three of “Total Divas,” viewers will get an idea of what Mendes faced from a personal standpoint. By revealing her story, the diva wants to send a positive message and inspire others.

“No matter what life brings, you can work through it,” Mendes said. “You can get through your struggles. Face reality and fix things in your life and learn from your mistakes. It’s going to be good to show of how you can get through anything.”

Whether it was as a valet, model, dancer or competitor, Mendes has played many roles. She credits her longevity to not being complacent.

“If you’re doing the same thing all the time, people are going to get bored,” she said. “For me, I go through changes in my life. I come to realizations. I don’t want to stay the same. As you see, I change my hair color all the time. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn’t work. For me, one of the things that have helped me in my career is that I’m always, always evolving. I’m always trying to surprise the audience. They don’t know what they will see next with Rosa.”

Mendes is already benefiting from the added exposure from “Total Divas.”

“I’ve been wrestling like four times a week on the live events,” she said. “I’m getting better and stronger. Hopefully, I‘ll get that win because I haven’t won a match yet on TV and been on the road for about five years. I haven’t won a singles match. I haven’t pinned anybody. I won one match I think back in 2010 by disqualification. I’ve never won a match or pinned anyone with the 1-2-3. So I hope that happens in the near future.

“…I see myself in the ring and outside the ring. I’m a very strong competitor now, so I’ll get more TV time. I have some stuff I’m working on right now. I don’t want to give it away. Hopefully, it will happen. I have my fingers crossed. I’m working really hard for it.”

Mendes doesn’t mind breaking a sweat and working to improve her skills. She ran the ropes at all of WWE’s past and prior training grounds including Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Florida Championship Wrestling in Tampa and NXT at the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

“I was at the Performance Center for six months,” she said. “I think it’s really important to be trained by different coaches and in different facilities. That Performance Center is out of this world. It’s a dream come true for a superstar or diva. There are so many rings, and it’s just such an amazing facility. During my six months there, I loved it and learned so much from that place.”

Fans will be able to follow the twists and turn of Mendes’ journey in WWE and at home, which includes wanting to find a tag team partner in life.

“I’m not looking to date around or just have fun. I’m looking for the one.”

She lightheartedly said: “If you people see me, and think I’m right, feel free to come up to me. If you don’t mind cameras being around, we can go on a date.”

I’m sure a virtual line is already forming to date Mendes. However, make sure you fit her criteria before you send her candy and flowers.

“If they love wrestling, it’s a plus because this is my passion,” she said. “This is what I do, and I love it so much. So they will have to understand that WWE is number one for me. I want somebody who is very motivated with their goals as well. They don’t have to be a wrestler. They don’t have to be an athlete.

“I just want to have a beautiful connection with someone. Someone that is loyal and honest. I want someone who is willing to go to the gym with me and work out and have fun and have nice dinners and talk. I just want someone to share all these wonderful things that are happening in my life right now.”

She added: “I’m also working hard to win a match. I’m getting better in the ring. I’m dealing with trying to get comfortable in the locker room again and fit in. It’s hard when you’ve been gone for so long to be part of the divas’ division and be comfortable in the locker room and be welcomed. Right now, I’m not welcome. I don’t really care what the girls think. I’m going to be myself. Hopefully, they will get used to me being there. You see all this during the season.”

Catch the season premiere of “Total Divas” 9 p.m. EST Sunday, Sept. 7 on E!.

Visit www.TotalDivas.com.

Follow Rosa Mendes on Twitter @LaRosaMendes

Follow me on Twitter @smFISHMAN

Reality Show Rosa

WWE diva Rosa Mendes is a beautiful, interesting, outspoken and single woman which makes for a great addition to E!’s “Total Divas” cast; so much, in fact, I already see potential for a spin-off down the road (maybe on E! or WWE Network), featuring this former WWE Diva Search contestant.

My Top 10 titles for a future reality show spin-off, starring WWE diva and newest “Total Divas” cast member Rosa Mendes.

The Diva Bachelorette

Rosa Knows Best

Dating Naked At Home

Pasión de Rosa

Brother Love Connection

Me and Herbal Essence

How I Met Your Mendes

Being Barry Horowitz

Viva La Rosa!

It’s Raining Mendes